Machine for pressing clay shingles



Patented Dec. 6, I898. A. B. KLAY, 6. JENNINGS &. F. EWING.

MACHINE FOB PRESSING CLAY SHINGLES, ROOFING TILES, BRICKS, 8L0.

(Application filed Dec. 22, 1897.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 6I5,560. Patented Dec. 6, I898.

A. B. KLAY, G. JENNINGS & F. EWING. MACHINE FOR PRESSING CLAY SHINGLES, ROOFING TILES, BRICKS, &c.

(Application filed Dec. 22, 1897.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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(Application filed Dec. 22, 1897.\ (No Model.) 3 Sheets-sheet s.

ma NORRIS PETERS co. PHOTO-LITHU. WASHINGTON u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM B. KLAY, GREGORY JENNINGS, AND FRANK EWING, or wEs'r CAIRO, 01110.

MACHINE FOR PRESSING CLAY SHINGLES, ROOFING-TILES, BRICKS, 81c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,560, dated December 6, 1898.

Application filed December 22,1897. Serial No. 663,054. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ABRAHAM B. KLAY, GREGORY JENNINGS, and FRANK EWING, citizens of the United States, residing at West Cairo, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Pressing Clay Shingles, Roofing-Tiles, Bricks, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a machine for pressing clay shingles, roofing-tiles, bricks, and the like, and has for its object to provide a new and improved apparatus operating to press the brick or other article and then have its motion automatically arrested, with its die held suspended in an elevated position, whereby the clay for another artiole to be pressed may be placed beneath the same.

Another object of the invention relates to the means for starting and automatically arresting the motion of the pressing mechanism.

A further object of theinvention relates to the provision of a new andim proved bed-plate for the dies.

Still further objects of the invention relate to certain details of construction and operation of the parts, as will hereinafter more clearly appear.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, showing the pressing mechanism elevated. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the reverse side of the machine from that illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing the pressing mechanism depressed. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bed-plate.

The letter A indicates the frame of the machine, in and upon which the working parts of the apparatus are supported. This frame comprises the uprights 6t, cross-beams b, and transverse supporting-beams c. A supple mental frame 13 supports the driving mechanism of the apparatus. The various parts of the frame are composed either of wood or iron and are suitably bolted or otherwise firmly secured together. Suspended from the supporting-beams c and otherwise suitably secured in the frame A are a pair of toggle-levers 1, havinga cross-head 2, sliding on suitable ways 3. Said cross-head carries a press-plate 4, to the under surface of which is removably secured a die 5. Suitably supported in the frame A is a bed-plate 6, a plan View of which is shown in Fig. at. This bedplate comprises a long side rail 7, a short side rail 8, extending parallel with the side rail 7 and secured thereto by a brace-plate 9, and transverse end members l0 11. Extending longitudinally of the bed-plate and supported in the end members 10 11 and brace-plate 9 is a rod 12, the purpose of which will be presently explained. It will be seen that the ends of the side rail 8 do not extend 6 to the end members 10 11, but that open spaces 13 14 are left between said ends and the end members.

The numerals 15 15 indicate the lower press-plates, on which are removably secured the lower die members 16 16. Said pressplates 15 15 are slidably and pivotally supported in the bed-plate b, one on either side of the brace-plate 9, by means of a plate 17, located centrally of said press-plates and proj ecting downward from the under sides thereof and having an opening, through which passes the rod 12. The side rails 7 and S are provided with a double bevel on their upper edges, and the under edges of the side members 18 19 of the press-plates are correspondingly grooved to slide on the beveled edges of the side members of the bed-plate. This construction likewise assists in preventing lateral movement of the press-plates and dies during the pressing operation.

The numeral 20 indicates a handle carried by the press-plates to assist in manipulating the same.

Inthe operation of the device, to be more fully hereinafter described, the press-plates 15 15 are designed to be moved from beneath the die to the respective opening 13 or let and there tilted on the rod 12 to discharge the pressed article onto a suitable receptacle. 5

Supported on journal-bearings 21 22 on the supplemental frame B is the drive-shaft 23, having pulley 24, driven by a belt 25.

The numeral 26 indicates a large gearwheel having a shaft 27, supported in jour- 10o nal-bearings 28 29 on the frame B. Meshing with the gear-wheel 26 is a pinion 30, which is loose on the drive-shaft 23. Secured to said pinion is one member 31 of a clutch, the other member 32 being splined on the driveshaft 23 in the ordinary manner to revolve therewith. It will be seen that by moving the clutch member 32 into engagement with the clutch member 31 the pinion will be made to revolve with the drive-shaft 23 and turn the gear-wheel 26. There are two separate mechanisms on each side of the machine for operating the movable clutch member 32, one of them being adapted to be operated by the hand and the other by the foot of the operator. Said clutch member 32 has a circumferential recess or groove 33, and the mechanism for operating the same by hand comprises a lever 34, pivoted toward its forward end at 35 on the frame and having at such end a tongue fitting into the groove of the clutch member 32. Said lever may be operated toslide said clutch member into or out of engagement with clutch member 31, carried by the pinion 30. The mechanism for operating the clutch by foot comprises a bell-crank lever 36, which rocks on journalbearings 37 on the'base of the frame. One arm 38 of said bell-crank lever has at its free end a tongue working in the groove 33 of clutch member 32, and the other and longer arm 39 extends backward at .right angles to and above the inner ends of two foot-levers 40, which are pivoted on opposite sides, respectively, of the base-frame of the machine.

It will be seen that by depressing either footlever 40 its inner end will be raised, the arm 39 will be elevated, and the arm 38 moved longitudinally of the machine to slide the clutch member 32 into engagement with the clutch member 31.

Securely bolted to the uprights of the frame A is a bracket 41, having a slot 41, on which bracket are journaled at 42 the ends of a bifurcated rock-arm 43. At the other end of rock-arm 43 is a socket to receive the spindle of a dog 45. Said spindle is adjustably secured in the socket of rock-arm 43 by means of screw-bolts 46. At the central point of rock-arm 43 is pivotally secured one end of a rod 47, which works through the slot 41 and at its other end is pivotally secured to toggle-levers 1. Said toggle-levers are operated,

, through the medium of rod 47 and rock-arm 43, by means of a pitman-rod 48, which has one end bifurcated and pivotally secured to the dog and its other end journaled on a wrist-pin 49 on the gear-wheel 26. Said pitman-rod is in two parts, which have an adjustable screw-threaded connection 50,whereby said pitman-rod may be lengthened or shortened to diminish or increase, respectively, the leverage of toggle-levers 1.

On the top of the frame are firmly bolted the ends of two projecting bracket-arms 51, which converge toward their outer ends, to and between which is pivotally secured intermediate its ends a locking-lever 52, which has at its outer end a catch 53, adapted to engage the dog 45. Pivoted at 54 to the lower part of the uprights of the frame is a lever 55, which extends parallel with the arm 39 of bell-crank lever 36 and has its inner end resting on said arm. At its outer end said lever 55 has two or more holes, in either of which, according to the adjustment required, is secured one end of a rod 56. On the top of the frame,between the bracket-arms 51,is secured another bracket-arm 57, through an opening in which works a bolt 58, to which the other end of rod 56 is connected. Intermediate its ends the rod 56 is provided with a swivel screw-threaded connection 56, whereby its length may be adjusted. The bolt 58 passes upward through an opening in the rear end of locking-lever 52, where it is confined by means of a nut 59. Between the end of lever 52 and the bracket-arm 57 is a coiled spring 60, which incloses the bolt 58. This spring 60 is a pushing-spring and operates to hold the outer end of locking-lever 52 normally in a depressed condition, so that in the operation of the machine the catch 53 may engage the dog 45, and to hold the end of lever 55 in contact with the long arm 39 of the bell-crank lever 36. By means of the swivel connection 56" and the threaded nut 59 the mechanism just described may be properly adjusted.

In order that the motion of the machine may be promptly arrested when the upper press-plate and die have been raised to an elevated position, we secure on the gear-wheel 26 a finger 61, which projects slightly beyond the periphery of said gear-wheel and is adapted in the revolution of the latter to engage a projection 62, carried by one of the hand-levers 34, and thus throw the clutch member 32 out of engagement with the clutch member 31. v

The operation of the machineis as follows: The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, the operator at one side of the machine places a sheet of clay on the lower die 16 and then moves the press-plate 15, carrying said die,beneath the upper die 5,carried by the toggle-levers 1. The hand-lever 34-or the foot-1ever 40 is then operated to throw the clutch member 32 into engagement with clutch member 31. This action at the same time depresses the outer end of lever 55 and through the rod 56 operates to raise the outer end of locking-lever 52 and lift its catch 53 out of engagement with the dog 45, carried by the lever-arm 44. Simultaneously the gear-wheel 26 begins to revolve and through the medium of pitman 48, lever-arm 44, rock-arm 43, and rod 47 straightens the toggle-levers 1, thereby pressing the upper die 5 down upon the sheet of clay on the lower die 16, which clay is thereby compressed into the desired shape. The gear-wheel 26 continuing to re volve, the lever-arm 44 and rock-arm 43 are raised and the rod 47 thrown inward, there by breaking the joints of toggle-levers 1 and raising the upper die 5. WVhen said die has reached the limit of its upward movement, the finger 61 on the gear-Wheel will strike the projection 62 and throw clutch member 32 out of engagement with clutch member 31, and the locking-lever'52 being released its catch 53 will spring into; engagement with the dog 45 and the motion of the machine will be stopped. The operator now seizes handle 20 and draws the lower press-plate 15 toward him to the opening 13, where the press-plate is tilted or turned over and the pressed tile, brick, shingle, or other like article discharged therefrom upon a suitable pallet. The operator on the opposite side of the machine having placed a sheet of clay on the die 16 moves the same beneath the toggle-levers and the above operation is repeated. The plate 9 of each press-plate 16 16* contacting with the brace-plate 9 of the bedplate Will operate to limit the inward movement of each press-plate.

We have found in practice that where metal dies are used the clay after being pressed tends to stick to the dies and the pressed article is not readily detached therefrom. We have therefore adopted plasterof-paris in lieu of metal dies and find that by their use the above objection .is overcome.

We have also found in practice that in order to obtain the best results from a pressingmachine a slight interval of time must be given in which to allow the clay to fall from the die-plates. In other words, if the press be a continuous-acting one it must have a very slow rate of speed. In our construction of machine we provide for this contingency and at the same time provide a machine which is capable of being operated very rapidly, the whole time consumed from the moment the press is started till the brick or other article is discharged from the lower die being about six or seven seconds.

It will be apparent that the various'mechanisms herein described may be modified without in any manner departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a machine for pressing bricks, tiles, and the like, the combination with the upper and lower die, of mechanism for raising and lowering said upper die, driving mechanism, means connecting said driving mechanism with the die-operating mechanism, means for starting said driving mechanism, means for automatically disengaging the starting means from the driving mechanism when the die is in an elevated position, and means operating simultaneously to positively engage a member of the driving mechanism to stop the motion of the machine, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for pressing bricks, tiles, and the like, the combination with a bedplate of a press-plate slidably and pivotally mounted thereon carrying a die, said bedplate having one of its side members cut away at the end to provide means for tilting said press-plate, and its other side member afiording a continuous support for the press-plate,

an upper die, driving mechanism, and means operated by the driving mechanism for raising andlowerin g said upper die, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for pressing bricks, tiles and the like, the combination with a bedplate having side and end members and one of said side members cut away at its ends to afford openings, and centrally of the bedplate a support, and the other side member affording a continuous support of press-plates slidably an'd pivotally mounted on each end of said bed-plate, each of which is adapted to be supported centrally of the bed-plate during the pressing operation, and then moved to its opening to be tilted, dies carried by said press-plates, an upper die, driving IDBOhELIlism, and means operated by the driving mechanism for raising and lowering said upper die, substantially as described.

4:. In a machine for pressing bricks, tiles and the like, the combination with a bedplate having side and end members and one of said side members cut away at its ends to afford openings and centrally of the bed-plate a support, a brace-plate connecting said side members and having an opening a rod supported in the end members and extending through the opening in said brace-plate, press-plates slidably and pivotally mounted on said rod at each end of said bed-plate and adapted to slide on said side members, dies carried by said press-plates, an upper die, driving mechanism, and means operated by the driving mechanism for raising and lowering said upper die, substantially as described.

5. In a machine, for pressing bricks, tiles, and the like, the combination with the upper and lower die of mechanism for raising and lowering said upper die, driving mechanism, means connecting said driving mechanism with the die-operating mechanism, starting mechanism movable into and out of engagement with the driving mechanism, means carried by the driving mechanism for automatically releasing the starting mechanism from engagement with the driving mechanism, a catchy carried by the frame of the machine for engaging a member of the driving mechanism to stop the motion of the machine, and means operated by the starting mechanism to release said catch, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for pressing bricks, tiles, and the like, the combination with the upper and lower die of toggle mechanism for raising and lowering said upper die, lever mechanism pivotally supported at one end to the frame of the machine, a rod pivotally connecting said toggle mechanism and lever mechanism, a gear-wheel, a pitman connecting the lever mechanism with the gear wheel, a driveshaft, a pinion loose 011 said shaft and meshing with the gear-wheel and having a clutch, starting mechanism comprising a clutch splined on the drive-shaft and movable into and out of engagement with the clutch of the pinion, means carried by the gear-Wheel for automatically disengaging said clutch members, a spring-controlled catch carried by the frame and operating simultaneously with the disengagement of the clutch members to engage the free end of the lever mechanism and stop the motion of the machine, and means operated by the starting mechanism to release said clutch, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for pressing bricks, tiles, and the like, the combination with the upper and lower die of toggle mechanism for raising and lowering said upper die, lever mechanism pivotally supported at one end to the frame of the machine, a rod pivotally connecting said toggle mechanism and lever mechanism, a gear-wheel, a pitman connecting the lever mechanism with the gear-wheel, a driveshaft, a pinion loose on said shaft and meshing with the gear-wheel and having a clutch, a clutch splined on the drive-shaft and movable into and out of engagement With the clutch of the pinion, mechanism for moving said clutch comprising a foot-lever pivoted on the frame, a bell-crank lever pivoted on the frame having an upright arm operatively engaged with said clutch and ahorizontal arm extended across and resting on said foot-lever, means carried by the gear-Wheel for automatically disengaging said clutch members, a spring-controlled locking-lever carried by the frame and having at one end a catch operating simultaneously with the disengagement of the clutch members to engage the free end of the lever mechanism and stop the motion of the machine, and means operated by the starting mechanism to release said clutch comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the frame and having one end resting on the horizontal arm of the bellcrank lever, and a rod operative] y connecting the other end of said lever and the spring-controlled end of thelocking-lever, substantially as described.

8. -In a machine for pressing bricks, tiles and the like, the combination with abed-plate of a press-plate slidably mounted thereon carrying a die, an upper die, driving mechanism, means operated by the driving mechanism for raising and lowering said upper die, starting mechanism and means for engaging and disengaging said starting mechanism with relation to the driving mechanism, and a catch carried by the frame of the machine and operating to engage amember of the driving mechanism to stop the motion of the machine when the starting mechanism is disengaged and to hold the upper die in an elevated position,andmeans operating in the engagement of the starting mechanism to release said catch, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for pressing bricks, tiles, and the like, the combination with a bed-plate of a press-plate slidably and pivotally mounted thereon carrying a die, an upper die, driving mechanism, means operated by the driving mechanism for raising and lowering said upper die, starting mechanism and means for engaging and automatically disengaging said starting mechanism with relation to the driving mechanism, and a catch carried by the frame of the machine and operating automatically to engage a member of the driving mechanism to stop the motion of the machine when the starting mechanism is disengaged and to hold the upper die in an elevated position and means operating in the engagement of the starting mechanism to release said catch, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for pressing bricks, tiles, and the like, the combination with a bed-plate having side and end members and one of said side members cut away at its ends to afford openings and centrally of the bed-plate a support of press -plates slidably and pivotally mounted on each end of said bed-plate, each of which is adapted to be supported centrally of the bed-plate during the pressing operation and then moved to its opening to be tilted, dies carried by said press-plates, an upper die, driving mechanism, means operated by the driving mechanism for raising and lowering said upper die,starting mechanism and means for engaging and automatically disengaging said starting mechanism with relation to the driving mechanism, and a spring-controlled catch carried by the frame of the machine and operating automatically to engage a member of the driving mechanism to stop the motion of the machine when the starting mechanism is disengaged and to hold the upper die in an elevated position, and means operatingin the engagement of the starting mechanism to release said catch, substantially as described.

11. The bed-plate mechanism herein described, comprising a bed-plate having side and end members and one of said side members cut away at its ends to afford openings and centrally of the bed-plate a support, a brace-plate connecting said side members and having an opening, a rod supported in the end members and extending through the opening in said brace-plate, and press-plates slidably and pivotally mounted on said rod at each end of said bedplate and adapted to slide on said side members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ABRAHAM B. KLAY. GREGORY JENNINGS. FRANK EWING.

Witnesses:

A. HARROD, J AS. W. HALFHILL. 

